There is no single right number, but there are well-worn ranges. This guide gives you a typical weekly allowance by age, walks through the three ways families pay (fixed, chore-based, or a mix), and includes a calculator so you can land on a rate that fits your budget and your kid.
Allowance by age: the quick answer
Most families land somewhere in these ranges. Treat them as a starting point, then adjust for your cost of living, how many chores are attached, and what the money has to pay for.
| Age | Typical weekly amount | Most common approach | What it usually covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4–5 | $1 – $3 | A few coins per chore, paid the same day | Small treats, a savings jar |
| 6–8 | $3 – $7 | Small fixed base plus paid chores | Toys, trading cards, a savings goal |
| 9–12 | $6 – $12 | Chore-based or hybrid, paid weekly | Games, outings with friends, gifts |
| 13–15 | $10 – $20 | Hybrid with bigger paid jobs (“bounties”) | Snacks out, apps, some clothes |
| 16–17 | $15 – $30 | Fixed budget for real expenses plus jobs | Phone plan, gas, clothing, entertainment |
Amounts are in US dollars, but the ratios travel well: 1 unit of your currency per year of age per week is the common anchor in the UK, Canada, Australia and the eurozone too.
Three ways to pay allowance
Before you pick a number, pick a model. The amount you settle on depends heavily on what the money is for.
1. Fixed allowance (no strings attached)
A set amount every week regardless of chores. Chores are expected as part of being in the family, and the allowance exists purely to practice managing money. Simple and predictable, but it does not teach that income comes from effort.
2. Chore-based (commission)
No chores, no pay. Each chore has a value, and kids earn exactly what they complete. This is the model that most directly connects work to reward, and it is why apps like EarnIt exist: tallying six kids’ chores by hand every Sunday gets old fast. The downside is that a child can decide the money is not worth it and opt out.
3. Hybrid (base + paid jobs)
A small fixed base to guarantee something to manage, plus optional paid jobs for anything beyond the everyday expectations. Most families end up here. Everyday chores like making the bed are simply expected; bigger jobs like washing the car or mowing the lawn pay extra.
Whatever model you pick, write it down and stick to it for at least three months. Consistency teaches more than the exact amount.
The “one dollar per year of age” rule
The most repeated rule of thumb is one dollar (or pound, or euro) per year of age per week: an 8-year-old gets $8 a week, a 12-year-old gets $12. It is popular because it is easy to remember and it scales automatically with every birthday.
It is also on the generous side for younger kids and on the low side for teenagers who are expected to pay for their own clothes or phone. Use it as a ceiling for a fixed, no-chores allowance and as a sanity check for a chore-based one. If a 7-year-old’s chore rates add up to $20 a week, the rates are too high; if a 15-year-old who buys her own lunches earns $6, they are too low.
Allowance calculator
Pick your model, enter your child’s age and, for chore-based pay, how many paid chores they do in a typical week. The calculator shows the weekly, monthly and yearly total, compares it to the typical range for that age, and splits it into spend, save and give buckets.
Suggested split
- 💵 Spend (Wallet) · 50%—
- 🏦 Save (Savings) · 40%—
- 💝 Give (Charity) · 10%—
A 50/40/10 split is a common starting point. EarnIt applies a split like this automatically every time a chore is approved, so the saving happens before the spending.
What works at each age
Ages 4–5: pay fast, pay small
Preschoolers do not understand a week. Pay in coins the same day the chore is done, and keep the amounts tiny: 25 to 50 cents per chore, one to three dollars a week in total.
- Use a clear jar so they can watch it grow
- Two or three picture-chart chores are plenty
- Introduce a savings goal they can reach in two weeks
Ages 6–8: introduce the weekly rhythm
This is the sweet spot for starting a real allowance. Kids can count money, understand waiting until Saturday, and feel the pull of a savings goal. Three to seven dollars a week is typical.
- A fixed payday builds the habit; Saturday morning works well
- Add a save bucket and a give bucket now, not later
- Let them make a bad purchase. A regretted toy at 7 is cheap tuition.
Ages 9–12: shift more spending to them
Tweens can handle a larger allowance if it has to cover more. Six to twelve dollars a week is common, and this is the age where hybrid models shine: a base plus bounties for bigger jobs.
- Move one category of spending onto them (game credits, treats out with friends)
- Bigger one-off jobs like washing the car teach negotiation
- Start a longer savings goal that takes two to three months
Ages 13–17: allowance becomes a budget
Teen allowance looks less like pocket money and more like a budget they manage. Ten to thirty dollars a week is typical, and the number should be built from what they are now responsible for: lunches, clothes, phone plan, gas.
- Pay monthly if you want to practice stretching money across weeks
- Everyday chores are expected; only substantial jobs pay extra
- Review the budget every six months and hand over one more expense
Decide what the allowance has to cover
The single most useful exercise is to list what you currently pay for that your child could reasonably manage instead. The allowance should roughly equal that list, plus a little to save.
- Treats and snacks outside of meals
- Small toys, trading cards, in-app purchases
- Gifts for friends’ birthdays
- Outings with friends (movies, arcade)
- For teens: clothing beyond basics, phone plan, gas, school lunches
Handing over a category of spending is what turns allowance from “free money” into practice. If nothing changes about who pays for what, the allowance is a bonus, not a lesson.
Spend, save, give
Whatever the amount, decide up front how it divides. The classic split is 50% to spend, 40% to save, and 10% to give. Younger kids do better with three physical jars; older kids do fine with three balances in an app.
EarnIt organizes every kid’s balance into exactly these three categories, Wallet, Savings and Charity, and splits each approved chore automatically. Kids can set a savings goal with a photo of the thing they are saving for, which does more for motivation than any lecture.
When to raise the allowance
Raise the allowance when the responsibilities grow, not just when a birthday arrives. Good moments to renegotiate:
- A birthday, if you use the per-year-of-age rule
- When you hand over a new category of spending
- When chores get harder or take more time
- At the start of a school year, when routines reset anyway
Five allowance mistakes to avoid
- Paying late or forgetting. Nothing kills a chore system faster than an unpaid Saturday. Automate it or use an app that tracks what is owed.
- Docking pay for behavior. Keep allowance about work and money. Use other consequences for attitude.
- Bailing them out. If they spend it all on Tuesday, Wednesday is a lesson. Do not advance next week’s money.
- Paying for everything. Brushing teeth is not a job. Reserve pay for real contributions to the household.
- Never adjusting. A rate set at 6 is wrong at 10. Revisit twice a year.
Get these five right and the exact dollar amount matters far less than you think.
Frequently asked questions
How much allowance should a 10-year-old get?
Most families pay a 10-year-old between $6 and $12 a week. If you use the one-dollar-per-year rule, $10 a week is the anchor; lower it if chores are optional extras, raise it if the allowance now covers outings or games.
Should allowance be tied to chores?
It depends on what you want to teach. Chore-based pay teaches that income comes from effort; a fixed allowance teaches budgeting even when income is steady. Most families use a hybrid: everyday chores are expected, a small base allowance is guaranteed, and bigger jobs earn extra.
How much should I pay per chore?
A common range is $0.25 to $1 for quick daily chores (making the bed, feeding a pet), $1 to $3 for weekly chores (vacuuming, bathroom), and $5 to $20 for big one-off jobs (washing the car, mowing the lawn). Add up a typical week and check it against the age range above.
What age should kids start getting an allowance?
Around age 5 or 6, when they can count coins and understand waiting until payday. Preschoolers can start earlier with a few coins paid the same day the chore is done.
Is it better to pay allowance weekly or monthly?
Weekly for kids under 12, because a month is too long to stay motivated. Teens benefit from monthly pay because stretching money across four weeks is the real skill.
Do I need a debit card or bank account for allowance?
No. Many families track balances in an app or with jars and pay out in cash when the child wants to spend. EarnIt keeps a running balance for each kid with no card, no bank account and no fees; you pay out however you already do.
Stop doing the math on Sunday night
EarnIt tracks every chore, pays out at the rate you set, splits it into Wallet, Savings and Charity automatically, and shows kids exactly what they have earned. Free for one kid, no card or bank account required.
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